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Articles by B. Toy
"2018 Year in Review"
Articles in this Issue Jen Sorenson Cartoons: Dec. 19, 2018 by Jen Sorensen12/19/2018, 2:15 PM Tips for Holiday Cheer Just Toyin' Witcha: Dec. 19, 2018 by B. Toy12/19/2018, 2:00 PM Great thinking... Erie Ale Works to Hold Annual Festivus by Tracy Geibel12/19/2018, 1:30 PM Come celebrate with the rest of us at Erie Ale Works. Tommy In Toon: Dec.
The Shape of Water
I’ve always wondered about the story of the regular workers in some vast, secret facility in movies. What do the janitors on the Death Star think of the Empire? Does a Bond villain’s evil lair have a front desk receptionist? Lucky for me, Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Pacific Rim) has finally produced a spy film seen through the eyes of blue collar workers in The Shape of Water.
Tee-ming with Options
A simple t-shirt. It’s the keystone to everyone’s casual attire. You know them and you love them, and, as everyone knows, you can never have enough of them. A handful of businesses around town have even made them their livelihood. There are a few successful screenprinters (from Silkscreen Unlimited to No Dress Code Studios, to Leadhead Creative), who have carved out a niche of their own through countless ink-loaded pulls of a squeegee.
Erie At Large: September 27, 2017
It was this time last year and the administration of Erie’s Public Schools was experiencing its most dire financial crisis in the district’s history.
It’s Back to School Week
For many children, “back to school” and “existential dread” become fast companions at an early age. I should know — before the onset of gradual physical and cognitive decline that began in my 20s (and has accompanied me into my 30s), I was one of them. Each year, my heart plunged as I realized that months of hard-earned sloth had slipped away, leaving me face-to-face with the immediate threat of industry.
Driving Rain and Driving Thoughts
I was recently driving across Erie county — Harborcreek to almost-Fairview — in a relentless downpour. My husband and I planned on going to Virginia for the weekend, but the weather stopped our trip before it really began. So, I got back into our rental car — we always rent for trips since our family vehicle has never heard of good gas mileage — and headed across town. Our attempt to take the highway was downright awful; our GPS was giving us grief (Virginia inexplicably wasn’t on the map?
814 Fest: The Ever-Expanding Family Reunion
Erie residents could be separated into two categories: those that recognize “lake effect” as simply what precedes a snow warning, and those who also recognize it as the stamp that’s followed our hardcore and metal music scene for decades. This latter category will likely include the people you will find at this year’s 814 Fest.
From the Editors: July 5, 2017
Like fireworks popping overhead, summer is coming in with a bang! The smoke will eventually settle. The childlike wonderment might fade from your eyes a bit, but you still know that there’s something special in the air. Summer is our time to get things done, and ideally, those things are pretty damn fun. With 8 Great Tuesdays, the Sunset Music Series, Mid Day Art Breaks, and Block Parties underway, there are plenty of chances to hear some live music in the breezy open air.
From the Editors: February 15, 2017
Erie has been at a crossroads for too long. As we begin to inch one way, toward innovation birthed from bold new ideas, something always seems to pull us in the other direction. It’s as if the things that should be nothing but obstacles are becoming our destination. Crises have a gravity to them, pulling us in by the sheer weight of certain problems.
Harrisburg Happenings: February 1, 2017
We are barely into the 2017-18 Legislative Session and several matters are already on the Senate’s list of issues to be addressed. One major issue that hits home in Erie County involves the “host fees” that casinos pay to counties and municipalities to offset the costs of the public services provided. The system was thrown into turmoil last September when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the Local Share Assessment (LSA) unconstitutional.
Just Toyin' Witcha: February 1, 2017
Concerns over gaming revenues, the closure of unemployment centers, and the growing opioid epidemic Almi Clerkin, candidate for mayor, outlines her vision for a 21st century Erie Conservative religions erect barriers against same-sex couples No, Napoleon. Some animals are not more equal than others. Standing up for good in Trump’s America
The Flaming Lips // Oczy Mlody
If you’re the breed of Flaming Lips fan who absolutely loved Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and The Soft Bulletin, you might want to slow down and check this album out. If you haven’t listened to those, drop what you’re doing and play them now. Those albums are true pop masterworks and everyone should love them. If you have a soft spot for the lighter experimental elements of Embryonic and The Terror, then all the better. Oczy Mlody is closer to pop than anything the band has done in over a decade.
Cherry Glazerr // Apocalipstick
The inner contents of Apocalipstick might be slightly gloomier than the cover art implies, but not by much. Hailing from Los Angeles, the trio, fronted by singer/guitarist Clementine Creevy, offers up its sophomore album. The 20-year-old Creevy is a model and an actress, and may be recognizable from her stint on critically acclaimed Amazon series Transparent, where she led the fictitious bands known as Glitterish and Fussy Puss.
Jovial Cacophony // Red Dirt, Yellow Snow
Fuzzy, imaginative, and just a little demented, Red Dirt, Yellow Snow brings together a myriad of fantastic elements. Behind it all is multi-hyphenated mastermind Jack Rys, who previously led the area band Teatime for Three (as well as all its various monikers). The Erie native now attends NYU, having recently completed his feature length film Paper Planes. This album starts off with a “Duck and Cover” sample from the atomic age, giving way to a mournful chord organ refrain.
Teddy Rankin // Dear Future Me
Erie’s Teddy Rankin has built a gorgeous record, beautifully crafted at every turn. Dear Future Me is a comparatively epic debut, its 12 tracks clocking in at almost 67 minutes. Rankin builds upon relatively simple songwriting, every shimmering delineation tracing a starry map in the listener’s mind. Blending indie pop and electronica, the album employs subtle drum machines and unpretentious, effects-laden guitar rhythms, the overall sound light and delicate.
Why Erie? - Erie Reader
In May 2015, after exiting my startup and being freed from an everyday work schedule, I started looking around to figure out what I was going to do when I grew up. Luckily, I was given a gift by my wonderful wife Sheri who said “Brian, I married you for better, or worse, but not for lunch. Find something to do.” As I looked for my next great adventure I called friends, former investors, mentors, and then the startup venture capitalists I’d come to know.
Indie Blues Take Over the Kings Rook Club
Adam McKillip, Oliver Burdo, and Addison Moon are braving the Erie weather to brighten up our after-holiday lull. Addison Moon has been fascinated with songwriting since an early age, releasing her first album, Eleanor Evermore, at only 17. She is currently working on her degree and new EP, set to be released in 2017. Vocalist and guitarist Oliver Burdo has been strumming and songwriting for nearly eight years, playing local venues all around northwestern Pennsylvania and into New York.
Groove Out of 2016 with The Division Street Machine
A more intimate live experience of The Division Street Machine will be a perfect period to the long sentence that was 2016. This gig, at Presque Isle Downs & Casino’s Brew Brothers, will be an excellent introduction for those new to the band’s sound, ideal for longtime fans who want to get up close to the music, and a fun evening out for all.
Christmas Spirits Give Way to Big City Hangover
Before Christmas hits, treat yourself to some of Erie’s finest musicians performing what they do best. Big City Hangover will be joined by Stephen Trohoske’s Art Groupies for the Kings Rook Club’s “Christmas Bash.” Despite Big City Hangover’s relatively short existence, the band shares a long history. The show’s organizer, Ryan Bartosek, was eager to emphasize that “Big City Hangover is an exciting, new, funky local band headed by Scotty Cravener and Rich Krouse.
Erie Faces Erie: December 7, 1016
“I find it humbling that people would come to me and trust me, no matter what their reason is for the piercing.” Ed Bernik: In our culture, piercing may still be foreign to many people. There are a lot of reasons to have a piercing – religious, spiritual, medical, or for self-expression. What is your belief system or mindset behind piercing?
Remembering Imam Hussein
Recently, more than 300 Shia-Muslims of Erie turned out to march in remembrance of the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, Imam Hussein, also known as Arbaeen. This is an annual pilgrimage undertaken by all Shia-Muslims around the world. The Shia-Muslims believe Imam Hussein travelled from Saudi Arabia to Najaf, Iraq, where he was murdered attempting to save the Shia sector of Islam.
From the Editors: November 23, 2016
The holiday season is officially upon us. Ruled by the massive sprawl of Christmas, the season is bookended by two days that offer a time of reflection. New Year’s Eve and Thanksgiving both let us look back on the year’s events. And my, oh my, what a year it’s been! For some, it might seem naive to list what we’re thankful for this year. To certain people, 2016 has been quite the thankless year.
Erie Faces Erie: August 3, 2016
“My obsession is that the best outcome for everyone is when you are free to choose; when government is limited, meaning, there’s more range for choosing.” Ed Bernik: You have spent at least 40 years of your career educating people about money. It’s an elusive concept that most people really don’t understand. What made you decide to take on that responsibility? Bob Chitester: Most people think of economics as about money, but I’ve had some success in persuading people otherwise.
Shazam! It's Comic Book Art at The Art Museum!
I’m going to admit it right now: I’m a comic book geek. It seems odd to say this today, with the cool factor associated with superheroes these days, but in the era before Robert Downey, Jr. was Iron Man, liking comic books was a sure-fire way to ensure that you would not have a date for the prom. But it wasn’t always that way.
Just Toyin' Witcha: June 22, 2016
Head to Frontier Park for one of the best weekends of the year. 1201’s dream kitchen looks out over a vineyard landscape. You may have missed the chance to see Star Wars under the stars, but Creed and Inside Out are still to come. This instrumental record provides a flurry of tones, shaped by a German trio of Frederic Gmeiner, Sepp Singwald, and Nils Frahm. As the circus rolls into our town, be mindful of separating the showmen from the clowns. Pokemon Go is bringing people outside together.
Just Toyin' Witcha: June 8, 2016
Head to Frontier Park for one of the best weekends of the year. 1201’s dream kitchen looks out over a vineyard landscape. You may have missed the chance to see Star Wars under the stars, but Creed and Inside Out are still to come. This instrumental record provides a flurry of tones, shaped by a German trio of Frederic Gmeiner, Sepp Singwald, and Nils Frahm. As the circus rolls into our town, be mindful of separating the showmen from the clowns.
Just Toyin' Witcha: May 25, 2016
Head to Frontier Park for one of the best weekends of the year. 1201’s dream kitchen looks out over a vineyard landscape. You may have missed the chance to see Star Wars under the stars, but Creed and Inside Out are still to come. This instrumental record provides a flurry of tones, shaped by a German trio of Frederic Gmeiner, Sepp Singwald, and Nils Frahm. As the circus rolls into our town, be mindful of separating the showmen from the clowns. Pokemon Go is bringing people outside together.
Next Fall: A Staged Reading at Dramashop
Think of a staged reading as an audio book where you can see the actors’ expressions. It’s also a theater experience, which is to say that as an audience member, you are a participant in the drama rather than a passive consumer of the words. The ambiance of the Renaissance Centre theatre, located in the tallest building in Erie, with its jazz age murals and intimate seating arrangement, makes the experience of live theater even more satisfying.
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